Wuaneita Society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Named after | Rough translation of the Cree word for kind-hearted |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1908 |
| Founded at | University of Alberta, Edmonton |
| Dissolved | 1973 |
| Type | Women's club |
| Membership | All female students |
Formerly called | Seven Independent Sisters (1908), Wauneita Club (1909) |
The Wauneita Society was a women's group at the University of Alberta from 1908 to 1973.[1] For many decades, it functioned as a support system for the relatively few female students on campus. The group organized lectures, social events, and fundraisers, and eventually operated its own women-only study hall in the old Students' Union Building. The group's core traditions and identity were heavily appropriated from stereotypes of Cree culture, at a time in Canadian history when Indigenous communities were criminalized for practising their culture.[2]
Of the 45 students in the University's first cohort in 1908, seven were women.[2] These original seven formed a type of sorority, called Seven Independent Spinsters, or S.I.S., with the intention of supporting the women's social and academic needs.[3] In 1909, when it became clear that there would be more than seven members, the group changed its name to the Wuaneita Club, and then to the Wuaneita Society in 1910.[3]
Like the Greek culture of fraternities and sororities, the Wuaneita women looked to other cultures to develop their identity and establish a unique character.[4] While histories of the organization note that the members chose their moniker from the Cree word for kind-hearted, there is no mention of what that Cree word was; the closest Cree word to Wuaneita is wanêyihtam, which translates to indicate a lack of logical thinking.[5] The motto of the group, "payuk uche kukeyow, mena kukeyow uche payuk," is a grammatically rough translation into Cree of "all for one, one for all."[3]
In its early days, the club organized fundraising events, debates, lectures, dances and other social events and began the tradition of initiating all new female students.[3] All female students at the University were initiated into the Society each fall and paid a 75 cent membership fee.[3]
